In Pieces

Chapter 2: I can't even die. That's bullshit.

Aidan sat down on the bed and let out a loud sigh. This was his reality now and he had to decide what to do with it. 

Or did he?

He could just do the same that he always did – let things run their course, go with the flow and hope it will all be over soon. 

That reminded Aidan that he had no idea how old Adnan Minn actually was and what he looked like. If he was really lucky, he might already be approaching the end of his lifetime.

He slowly walked towards the big mirror hanging on the wall. Aidan hated mirrors and since childhood avoided them like a plague. Seeing himself gave him a weird anxiety – it was not that he had a problem with what he looked like, more like seeing his own reflection made him confront the fact that he was indeed real and had a corporeal form. And that was something he didn't want to think about.

Unfortunately Adnan Minn was not yet a grandpa. He seemed to be the same age as Aidan himself. Funnily enough Adnan's face was also eerily similar to his own – just a bit less pale. The General was also slightly taller, and his green eyes seemed colder and more distant. But they shared the same dark hair, long nose and full lips.It was clear that Adnan had led a healthier lifestyle than Aidan and was even less likely to suffer an untimely death. How unfortunate.

Adnan's wrists also didn't have any scars. Aidan didn't know how to feel about it – on one hand he hated those marks and the weakness they represented, on the other hand he had gotten used to the soothing feeling of touching the rough marks on his skin. It made him even a bit sad that he won't be able to touch them again.

What concerned Aidan the most though was that he had only been in this place for a couple of days and he had already managed to feel more emotions than in the last decade of his life. It felt weird and he didn't like it all.

If he were to continue existing as Adnan Minn, he had to find a way to take off the edge and stop the intrusive thoughts – be it with the help of alcohol or any kind of drug available in this wretched place. He also needed to figure out how to get out of this whole „torturing people" business. Hopefully it was not General Minn's only source of income.

Aidan decided to start with the easier task. He opened the door of his room and peeked outside. Sure enough his gloomy soldier friend was right nearby. Aidan gestured for him to come closer.

„I was wondering, where I could get some wine around here?" he asked, keeping his voice down.

The soldier gave him a confused look.

„General Kear or General Mung might have brought some with them. Is there a reason you would require wine?" he answered.

„To drink some, of course," said Aidan patiently.

What was it with these stupid questions? What other reason would he have? Bathing in it?

„Have you denounced your asceticism vows, General?" the soldier's eyes widened in disbelief.

His what? 

In addition to being an asshole was this Adnan Minn also completely out of his mind?

„Not denounced, per se. Just taking a pause," said Aidan carefully. 

An ascetic? Seriously? So this guy was fine with torture, murder and whatnot but alcohol was where he drew the line? What kind of moral compass is that?

Aidan would rather inhabit a body of a homeless alcoholic with incurable syphilis than live as an ascetic. The Universe was obviously having fun at his expense.